NatWest Accelerator, which has been formed in partnership with the University of Oxford’s entrepreneurship hub Enspire Oxford and Equinox, a regional partnership driving inclusive innovation-led growth, launched at the Oxford Centre for Innovation at Blue Boar Court in the city centre last night.
The NatWest Accelerator and EnSpire’s aim is to connect Oxford entrepreneurs to expert support, funding opportunities, and a powerful network to provide Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurs a greater opportunity to grow and scale.
At the official opening of the NatWest Accelerator hub in the Oxford Centre for Innovation guests were welcomed by Nicki Campling, Director of Innovation and Operations for The Oxford Trust. Key speeches from Dr Olga Kozlova and Regional Director Emily Fallon were followed by a Founder Showcase with presentations from 10 start-ups including Vectis Biosciences, the Drone Rules and the Make Good Foundation.
The Oxford Accelerator is led by Emily Fallon, Regional Accelerator Director for London and the Southeast, and Ryan Johnson, Accelerator Community Manager, one of Oxfordshire’s best-connected champions of entrepreneurship and innovation. Over the past two decades Ryan has built an outstanding reputation for bringing together founders, investors, universities, businesses and public sector organisations to help innovation flourish.
Alongside leading the NatWest Accelerator, he founded and hosted Startup Huddle Oxford, one of the UK’s largest monthly founder communities, and has spent his career creating programmes that support businesses to start, grow and scale.
The NatWest Accelerator has taken 2745 sq ft (255 sq m) of self-contained office space on the second floor of the Oxford Centre for Innovation.
The Accelerator will enable entrepreneur members to be part of a like-minded community and learn from experts through workshops, pitch events and masterclasses, covering everything from starting out to how to scale companies. It will also help entrepreneurs to secure the right funding to help business growth, look at product market fit, unlock new markets and support leaders to grow.
Underpinned by the NatWest Accelerator app, the Accelerator is open to students with a seed of an idea, researchers exploring the commercial potential of their work, local communities building a business, or an established founder ready to grow. Entrepreneurs can join via the App.
Ryan’s experience spans entrepreneurship, innovation and economic development, having designed and delivered programmes supporting thousands of entrepreneurs while working across local government, higher education and national initiatives. His work has been recognised by government and civic leaders for its impact on business growth and inclusive innovation.
Ryan Johnson, Accelerator Community Manager, NatWest, said: “Oxford has one of the world’s most exciting innovation ecosystems, but brilliant ideas don’t become successful businesses by accident. Founders need access to the right people, practical support and the confidence to take the next step.
“The NatWest Accelerator is about opening those doors. Whether someone has just had their first business idea or is preparing to scale internationally, we’re creating an inclusive community where entrepreneurs can learn from one another, access expert support and connect with the networks that help businesses grow.
“Being based at The Oxford Trust’s Oxford Centre for Innovation places us right at the heart of Oxford’s innovation community and makes it even easier to collaborate with founders, researchers, investors and partners across the region.”
Nicki Campling, Director of Innovation and Operations for The Oxford Trust said: “We are delighted to welcome the NatWest Accelerator to our Oxford Centre for Innovation. The Trust is committed to helping ambitious founders start, grow and scale their businesses through our innovation centres. Having the Accelerator based in our Oxford Centre will strengthen the support available to entrepreneurs across the region, creating even more opportunities to drive business growth within our thriving community.”
The NatWest Accelerator joins the diverse technology community at the Oxford Centre for Innovation including Aether, Visual Meaning, Drees & Sommer, Q-Control, Mathys & Squire, Oxford Drug Design, Oxford Innovation/SQW Group and Barclays Eagle Labs.
Photo: NatWest Accelerator team at the Oxford Centre for Innovation for the launch (left to right Darren Pirie, Head of Acceleration Partnerships; Duncan Robertson, Head of Strategy & Growth; Emily Fallon, Regional Accelerator Director; Ryan Johnson, Accelerator Community Manager
